San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-08-08
AFTER THE ELECTION.
LINCOLN AT THE POLLS AS A
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

the Night Following His First Elec-
tion-CongratuIstions from Northern
Leaders-News from the South.
Election day came and passed quietly
enough A little before the closing of the
polls Mr. Lincoln sent a message to my hotel
reminding me that he had promised he would
not go to vote without me, and saying that
he was now ready. There was not much to
be made Of the incident for newspaper pur-
poses. He had cast too many ballots in the
same place for the conventional proceeding
to excite curiosity now, presidential candi-
date though he was. He was Cheered a little,
rather perfunctorily, and few spectators
the fugacious Job among them, no doubt
looked on while he tore away the list Of cleo
tors from the printed Republican ticket and
deposited the balance Of the slip. / remem-
Der my disappointment at not finding mate
rial enough In the transaction for more than
a few lines of description. But then be-
longed to the old school Of journalism. Your
modern special correspondent would ask no
better basis for continuous pages of brilliant
narrative-more power to his nimble fingers
and still more nimble imagination.
As was TO have been expected, the night
following the election was the most exciting
VI my WISH. Inc great TeSUlU lOUR Detu
past q doubt, but there was none the less
eagerness to learn the details. The little tele-
graph office in the center of the town was a
scene of the liveliest interest, though only a
few individuals were permitted to invade its
privacy and get the news fresh from the
wires.
SENSATIONAL REPORTS.
As an inevitable consequence, reports Of the
-. IL.
culated outside. The southerners in Wash
ington had set fire to the capital JEFF Davis
had proclaimed rebellion in Mississippi, and
Douglass had been seized as a hostage In
Alabama Blood was running in the streets
of New York and could not be stopped The
negroes of Virginia had risen in instruction.
Buchanan had resigned the presidency. Any
person emerging from the telegraph station
and denying these and kindred rumors was
set down as having his own reasons for con-
cealing the dreadful truth. As for Mr.. Lin
coin, it was, of course preposterous TO look to
him for square statement or any statement
of the facts The privileged half dozen who
went freely in and out, being unable to con-
firm the catalogue of horrors, became ex-
tremely unpopular, and were compelled to
listen to unaattering remarks concerning
pearance.
The president elect came frequently to
learn the incoming intelligence, but it was
not until comparatively late hour that any
thing except formal returns began to arrive.
There was little gathering of friendly
neighbors in a hall not far distant, where
Mrs. Lincoln sat surrounded by the ladies Of
her acquaintance, enjoying a share of the
triumph. Once or twice her husband looked
in upon this party, but did not long remain.
Toward midnight telegraphic messages adj
dressed directly to him commenced TO take
the place of the regular public dispatches.
Mr.. Cameron was heard from more than once
with respect to the vote of Pennsylvania.
Words of congratulation and cheer came
from various Republican leaders in the north
ern states. By and by the operators voice
was heard in less exuberant tone, reading
out the announcement:
Hammond and Chestnut, of South Caro-
lima, have resigned from the United States
senate"
FIRST NOTE OF DIsCoRD.
It was the first note Of discord to interrupt
the general reioicing-the first forewarning
of the shadow to an this brightness. 1t was
unexpected, too; and, coming in the midst Of
a tempest of enthusiasm, sent a disagreeable
chill through most of those who listened. A
few hours later it would not have produced
so ugly a shock. l looked at Mr.. Lincoln,
wondering if this sharp reminder would
bring up any sign of a deeper consciousness
than he had thus far shown. There was none.
He received it with the same smile he had
worn all the evening while. hearing the reit-
Grated combinations of his success. Was it
insensibilityi He fingered yet little longer,
then went out into the street, whence he did
not return-at least not while l remained in
the vicinity. Looking forth, once or twice,
saw him walking slowly up and down, quite
alone, the thoroughfares being by that time
deserted. Presently started for my hotel
with one Of the citizens who had also waited
till near the last. As we passed the solitary
figure we exchanged leavetakings, and my
companion observed:
"Quick work for those South Carolina SEN
ators, wasn't it7 Turned tail as soon as they
got the news"
"There are plenty left, answered Mr.. Lin
colin "A little while ago saw q couple Of
shooting stars fall down, kissing and sputter-
ing. Plenty left for many bright night"
Excepting for formal farewell, did not
again see him in Springfield, and l can re-
member that those few midnight words, al
though weighted with no evidence Of especial
seriousness, had measurable effect in soften
ing the impression produced by his persistent
laughing humor. 1t was think, the first
observation | had heard from him in which
no jest was implied. Strange as it seems to
to me now, look over the abundant notes
have preserved of that visit, during which
saw Mr.. Lincoln daily for more than a week,
and often hours at time, without finding
the faintest foreshadowing of the character
In which he afterwaTd revealed himself Had
any disaster interviewed to prevent his in
auguration in 1861, l should never have
known how to persuade myself that the ma
ton had suffered an irrcparable loss. Was it
because of my incapacity to see beneath the
surfaCel Was it because he chose to wear a
maskl Or was it, as | grew to believe, that
the Lincoln of the war did not then eXistl |
shall try to draw no further differences, but
leave the question unsettled as it stands in
my memoranda of twenty three years ago.
New York Sun.
The Shy Mans Sufferings.
Az n Studant of humanity I have lately